Photo from Forbes

“This four-hour journey begins in the charming waterfront city of Hania and takes you past Samaria, Europe’s longest gorge; the journey on to Kandanos features craggy mountainous terrain dotted with tiny villages of traditional stone houses, and 14th-century Byzantine churches. The windy roads are challenging, but the white-knuckled ride, through Palaeohora, with its pink sandy beaches and waves ideal for surfing is worth the journey.”

Should anyone indulge in the beauty of Crete by car, it is wise to take heed of road conditions. Professional organizations have deemed these roads, of a “Third World standard,” not to mention the number of cars has increased six-fold, though the poorly maintained, narrow and unlit roads have not been upgraded.

It is also wise to take personal responsibility as a driver. See, “Cretans want better roads,” which explains what Crete and the whole of Greece really need are better drivers. 😉

I did this drive once, over a year ago. I drove from Iraklio over to Chania, and then down to Paleochora, and then drove back the next day. I think calling the roads third-world standard is an exaggeration. It’s often narrow, but that can’t be avoided in a gorge. Ironically, improving the road would detract from the beauty.

I remember at one point two hawks swooped down in front of us from left and right. That was the closest I came to having an accident, in my excited attempt to look up above us.

As for Cretans wanting better roads, it’s true that roads are pretty bad here. But it’s foolish to blame accidents on them. Crete needs better drivers. They’re really bad. If you drive through a village, you have to watch out for 14-year-olds driving 4x4s. I’ve also never seen so much roadkill in one place. It’s either a sport down here, to see how many animals you can kill, or the animals are stupider here than anywhere else.

as a cretan who has travelled this route many many times (i used to work in paleohora one day a week), i know it is beautiful, but i would have to agree with stathis – there are also other more beautiful scenic drives elsewhere in hania (try the hania to rethimno route, taking the old road, not the motorway).
and yes, thomas, the cretans may want better roads, but most of them drive as though they own the roads themselves, with complete disregard for anyone else that happens to be using the road at the same time as they are.

I’ve not done that trip yet but we did drive from Athens to Pylos and then to Nafplio this fall and enjoyed both. Must say though that my husband who was driving was pretty white knuckled the whole time. We couldn’t believe how cars could still try to pass on tight mountain curves, are they nuts! We saw many shrines to those who didn’t make the curves but somehow that doesn’t act as a deterrent. Didn’t see a single police patrol car or radar anywhere…ciao

I haven’t made it down to Crete, yet, but I hope to be awed by a drive up to the Vikos Gorge next week. Papingo has been highly recommended. Not only am I hoping to be awed, but I hope to survive. A Portuguese expat last week gave me the best advice I’ve received so far: “Don’t drive defensively. Go offensive.”

I can’t say that Greece has the worst drivers. Has anyone driven in Portland, Oregon, USA??? We did a lot of driving in the Peloponnese this summer, and we thought the roads were amazing and the drivers albeit aggressive, seemed to be in control. Come to Portland, but know you take your life into your own hands. Friendly people, but can’t drive to save their lives!!!

I live in Chania, and drive down to Paleohora many times and I have to say that I don’t think it’s the most beautiful out of Europe! And if you want to see bad roads, you should drive from Falasarna to Elafonisi, near to the coast. Now that’s dangerous.

It’s bad enough driving through unlit mountains, but it’s also so narrow that only one car can pass at a time. The government should take care of the roads…

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